Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Recap: An Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.
Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
The Powerful Set
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest fame.
Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their live band.
Their performance featured interpretations of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Spirit
Towards the end, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
Although the evening's production had some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.
